Steve is right, "rules is rules." If the organization sponsoring the meet follows that set of rules, it is up to the coaches and athletes to follow them. Too many times, people want to be the "victim" and not take responsibility for their actions. If the official didn't make the call earlier, then it isn't fair that the call be made after the fact. In my opinion, that is "splitting hairs." Also, the coach who continued to make the protest over the jewelry needs to get a life and realize that mistakes can be made. Perhaps he doesn't know the intent of the rules. Nevertheless, the DQ stands. It is a shame, but it is reality. If I miss the 25mph speed limit sign because it is behind a bush and get pulled over in a town, I get nailed. Period.
However, there is another issue. Perhaps the power's to be need to look at the rules structure of the sport. I know that in Pennsylvania, there are at least 8 sets of rules, depending on how is running the meet. (USATF, NCAA, PIAA [HS Assoc.], AAU, numerous HS conferences, and in Philadelphia, the private schools, the Catholic schools and the public schools). Granted, kids don't run in all of those jurisdictions, but many of the officials work in multiple formats. Confusion yes, ignorance no. It is my understanding in many places, the competition rules are the same for all ages and divisions, only the specifications for the events (weights and hurdles) vary for different ages. Other than the politics of the powers running the various organizations, what is keeping the sport to identify one set of rules and follow them. Perhaps then, there won't be incidents like the one mentioned here or the "undergarment conspiracy" of a few years ago. Trey Jackson A coach, official, meet director in Pennsylvania ----- Original Message ----- From: "WARD, MARK -CKHS" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "'Steve Vaitones'" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, June 04, 2004 11:16 AM Subject: RE: t-and-f: Another idiotic jewelry DQ > I agree with Steve. I hate the rule, but there needs to be some personal > responsibility someplace. The rule has been in place for more than a year > and we still see athletes try to come to the line with jewelry on. We even > had an official make the statement "This isn't that big of a meet. Go ahead > and keep your necklace on." Needless to say, he has been banned from > working meets in our league. > > I say get rid of the rule, but while it is here - Learn it and follow it. > > Mark Ward > Head Coach, Central Kitsap T & F > President, WSTFCA > "It's a GREAT Day to Fly!" > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Steve Vaitones [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Friday, June 04, 2004 6:48 AM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Fwd: t-and-f: Another idiotic jewelry DQ > > > Writing as a devil's advocate (though I hope I won't burn in hell) with the > perspective of an official at my share of HS meets in recent years: > > - What about personal responsibility? The rule is/has been pretty well > publicized. If the athlete has got to the state meet level, they should > know the rules. And this should be 'called' at the lower level starting > at dual meets; these reminders do result in kids knowing the rule several > meets into the season. > - Same responsibility with the coach - might be a pain, but just as they'd > ask if everyone has their uniform before the bus leaves, that the shot > putter has their hand taped within the rules, you ask remind the kids to > take off their jewelry > - If the official didn't care, then he shouldn't be officiating that level > meet anymore - are the officials coming from an officials association > having worked dual and league meets beforehand or was it just a random > individual? > - Don't hear much about this in other sports, though it does apply to all > sports, doesn't it? > > Steve Vaitones > > > > >Date: Thu, 03 Jun 2004 20:51:58 -0400 > >From: Jim Gerweck <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >Subject: t-and-f: Another idiotic jewelry DQ > >To: Track & Field <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >User-Agent: Microsoft-Outlook-Express-Macintosh-Edition/5.02.2022 > >Sender: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >Reply-To: Jim Gerweck <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >X-ELNK-AV: 0 > > > >At this week's CT Class MM meet, one of the top 3 vaulters in the state was > >competing w/ one of those string and bead necklaces (the PV official either > >didn't notice or didn't care). > > > >An opposing coach did notice and informed the official, who wiped out the > >kid's first jump, and made him take off the necklace. The kid continued on, > >bare-necked, to win the competition. > > > >Then the same opposing coach went to the meet director and raised enough of > >a stink that the kid was DQd, even though he had complied w/ the PV > >official's instruction. Evidently competing w/ jewelry even once merits the > >death penalty. > > > >So basically, the jewelry rule is used primarily as an instrument for > >coaches to exact retribution on opposing athletes. And as far as I can see, > >it has done no appreciable good for the sport. > > > >If anyone thinks the rule, and specifically this application of it, is > >ludicrous, contact Tony Mosa, the asst. director of the CT. Interscholastic > >Athletic Conference. > > > >[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > >Maybe somebody with some common sense will finally take action. > > > >-- > >Jim Gerweck > >Running Times > > Steve Vaitones > Managing Director > USA Track & Field - New England Association > P.O.Box 1905 > Brookline MA 02446-0016 > Phone: 617 566 7600 > Fax: 617 734 6322 > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > www.usatfne.org >
